The influence of cultural heritage on students willingness to engage in peer assessment

Assessment is an essential element of any course where a student receives a mark on completion. The decision about which methods of assessment to use are critical because ‘assessment defines what students regard as important, how they spend their time and how they come to see themselves as students (Brown et al, 1977 p7 my emphasis). From this perspective the experience of assessment is productive, not merely reflective of learning and intimately linked with students’ sense of identity. The choice of assessment methods therefore determines not only what, but how the students learn. This paper explores the relevance of peer assessment for professional courses.